Rio Tinto celebrates cultural stories with 19th Colours of our Country exhibition

Art enthusiasts from WA and beyond are invited to experience the stories and culture of Pilbara Aboriginal artists at the annual Colours of our Country exhibition.

Now in its 19th year, the exhibition will be held at the Central Park building in Perth, from Monday, September 16, to Friday, September 27. It will showcase a vibrant collection of 160 unique Aboriginal artworks from 43 artists.

This year’s line-up features independent artists and art centres across the Pilbara, including the Yinjaa-Barni Art Centre, Cheeditha Art Group and Juluwarlu Art Group.

Since the exhibition launched in 2006, more than 2,987 artworks have been sold, generating almost $3.3m for local artists, their art groups and communities.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott comments on the exhibition.

“Over the course of 19 years, we have had the privilege of partnering with Indigenous artists who generously share their rich heritage and artistry through Colours of our Country,” he said.

“Their works of art offer their reflections of country and invite us to recognise and appreciate the cultural, spiritual and physical connections that Indigenous people have with the Pilbara region.”

The exhibition’s signature art piece, ‘Our Country (The Pilbara)’ by Yinjaa-Barni Art Centre’s artist Justina Willis was inspired by the ancestral stories of the artist’s Ngurra (country).

Justina Willis comments on her signature art piece.

“Pilbara is the country where we, the Yindjibarndi people, live and share many of our cultural stories and history that have been passed onto us by our ancestors,” she said.

“Our country has so much to offer — bush foods and medicine, as well as animals like emu, kangaroo and goanna — our country is full of riches and we are connected to our land.”

Artwork can be purchased in person or online via a virtual exhibition with all proceeds going directly to the artists, art centres and their communities.